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World Cup Discussion Thread - Day 18 (1 July)

Pellshek

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Dec 30, 2015
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Strange to see so many on SC dislike Spain despite of them being one of the very few teams that always go out to play rather just sit back and defend and hope for lucky goals on the counter. In the EPL the same fans criticise most other teams for doing the same when they park the bus vs Spurs :cool:
By the way, I much rather watch tiki-take football all day than teams that park the bus.

Nobody "dislikes Spain." If anything, it's the opposite - I think most people here wanted Spain to go out and show off their awesome talent, and most critical comments are a reflection of the disappointment that we didn't get to see that. I'd much rather they were still in the tournament than Russia, but when I try to think now of a goal threat they produced, I seriously struggle to recall one.
 

dk-yid

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Jan 17, 2011
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I hate football.

It's the hope that kills you. Midway through the second half I was so certain that we would go through. Not because Denmark is a particularly good team but having struggled to cope with the Croatian I really felt we turned the game, took control and looked the more likely. After half time I never really feared the Croations. Then the penalty in stoppage time, and the renewed hope from Schmeichels save. Then that bloody penalty shootout where our two best bets, Scone and Eriksen, fall short. :cry:
 

Dharmabum

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Aug 16, 2003
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Nobody "dislikes Spain." If anything, it's the opposite - I think most people here wanted Spain to go out and show off their awesome talent, and most critical comments are a reflection of the disappointment that we didn't get to see that. I'd much rather they were still in the tournament than Russia, but when I try to think now of a goal threat they produced, I seriously struggle to recall one.

The was a strong sense schadenfreude - and few mocking the tiki-taka style - among the Spurs fans on SC.
But Russia, on the other hand plenty of chances right...
PS! Even the best team struggles against "parked buses" at times - which is why even teams like Bayern, Real M and Barca lose in their domestic leagues - and CL - vs (much) "lesser" teams.
 

Dharmabum

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Aug 16, 2003
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I'm sorry. 79% possession, 0 shots on target in the first half, 9 shots on target in 120 mins of football and requiring an own goal should be applauded.

As Cesc pointed out after the game Spain had chances to go forward but instead, they turned back and just wanted possession. Also, if Russia's sitting back all game why play two defensive midfielders?

I am not saying I agree with the team selection (Spain should have played Iniesta and more offensive RB Carvajal and put on Rodrigo earlier) but we are not talking about team selection here but the will to play football - something Russia cerainly were not.
But despite of playing 2 DM Spain still came out to play football and, as you said, had 79 % possession.
Even top teams at times struggle to score against "parked buses" - which is why you have Euro winners like Denmark, Greece and Portugal and CL winners like Chelski and Inter...
Anyway, feel free to applaud "parked bus" teams - I much rather watch teams like Spain and Barca who come out play and entertain rather than dreary "bus" teams.
 

vuzp

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2004
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I am not saying I agree with the team selection (Spain should have played Iniesta and more offensive RB Carvajal and put on Rodrigo earlier) but we are not talking about team selection here but the will to play football - something Russia cerainly were not.
But despite of playing 2 DM Spain still came out to play football and, as you said, had 79 % possession.
Even top teams at times struggle to score against "parked buses" - which is why you have Euro winners like Denmark, Greece and Portugal and CL winners like Chelski and Inter...
Anyway, feel free to applaud "parked bus" teams - I much rather watch teams like Spain and Barca who come out play and entertain rather than dreary "bus" teams.
I agree, does anyone really remember Greece winning the Euros it was a terrible tournament. but again I have tried to block if from memory, and its nothing personal against Greece, but it was just so anti-football.
 

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
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66,826
I am not saying I agree with the team selection (Spain should have played Iniesta and more offensive RB Carvajal and put on Rodrigo earlier) but we are not talking about team selection here but the will to play football - something Russia cerainly were not.
But despite of playing 2 DM Spain still came out to play football and, as you said, had 79 % possession.
Even top teams at times struggle to score against "parked buses" - which is why you have Euro winners like Denmark, Greece and Portugal and CL winners like Chelski and Inter...
Anyway, feel free to applaud "parked bus" teams - I much rather watch teams like Spain and Barca who come out play and entertain rather than dreary "bus" teams.

At no point have I applauded Russia. What I actually said was I found Spain's style of football yesterday as uninteresting as Russia's.

A team that comes out to entertain does not produce 0 shots on target after 45 mins. I doubt many would find over 1,000 completed passes with 9 shots on target to show for it over 120 mins entertaining. When Russia equalised they had had 2 shots on target, which was 2 more than Spain had managed at that point. How is that entertaining? At one point Spain was camped in the Russian half and passed backwards and sideways while ignoring every run Costa made. Spain's style might have been somewhat enjoyable when it had Xavi but opponents are wise to it now. Death by passing is no longer effective as a means of attack. Spain, Germany, and Argentina make up the top three at this tournament when it comes teams with the most average possession and what have they got to show for it?
 

SUIYHA

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Jan 15, 2017
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The difference between Spain's tiki-taka now vs when it was effective from 2008-2012 (and when Barca play with it), is that back in the day they had fast forwards who would run in behind the lines and stretch the opposition defences. Someone who they could actually find the space to do some damage. Think Torres, Villa, Pedro, even Jesus Navas. Barca obviously have Messi to play that role - he also can drag defenders around with his dribbling skills if they are too organised to be broken down by the passing. Spain had none of that yesterday, just slow, boring passing. As soon as Rodrigo came on they looked like they might score, if he'd started I have little doubt that they'd have won the game.

They are of course, also missing Xavi and Alonso. Both of which could also play a more direct, incisive ball when needed. I know that Silva had a much better season than him at club level but I wonder if they'd have taken Fabregas instead (or instead of Koke) they'd have done better overall.
 

Dharmabum

Well-Known Member
Aug 16, 2003
8,274
12,242
At no point have I applauded Russia. What I actually said was I found Spain's style of football yesterday as uninteresting as Russia's.

A team that comes out to entertain does not produce 0 shots on target after 45 mins. I doubt many would find over 1,000 completed passes with 9 shots on target to show for it over 120 mins entertaining. When Russia equalised they had had 2 shots on target, which was 2 more than Spain had managed at that point. How is that entertaining? At one point Spain was camped in the Russian half and passed backwards and sideways while ignoring every run Costa made. Spain's style might have been somewhat enjoyable when it had Xavi but opponents are wise to it now. Death by passing is no longer effective as a means of attack. Spain, Germany, and Argentina make up the top three at this tournament when it comes teams with the most average possession and what have they got to show for it?

Thing is that no team dare to play vs Spain because Spain are so superior in possession football so they all just park the bus basically.
I am not saying that Spain should not have created more chances but it's not that easy when, as already mentioned, pack all their players in defense.
Besides, Spain lost their head-coach just a few days before the WC started - and replaced by an almost inexperience coach with much less practical knowledge of coaching - which for sure must have affected the team.
 
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